South Africa head coach Hugo Broos said his side had silenced their critics after securing a historic place in the World Cup knockout stage with a 1-0 victory over South Korea on Wednesday.

Competing in their fourth World Cup appearance, Bafana Bafana finished second in Group A behind co-hosts Mexico, who won all three of their group matches. South Africa had been heavily criticised following a 2-0 defeat to Mexico in their opening game, but they recovered with a draw against the Czech Republic before defeating South Korea in a decisive encounter. Thapelo Maseko's second-half goal proved enough to seal the win.

Broos expressed pride in his team's achievement and said the result was the perfect response to those who had questioned his methods and called for changes after the early setback.

The 74-year-old Belgian, who has managed South Africa since 2021, described reaching the knockout phase as a special and emotional accomplishment. He admitted that the tournament could be among the final chapters of his coaching career and said ending it with such success would be a dream for any coach.

Broos also praised the strong bond between himself and his players, noting that their relationship goes beyond the traditional coach-player dynamic. He said he has always maintained faith in the squad despite the criticism directed at them.

South Africa will next face co-hosts Canada in Los Angeles on Sunday, with a place in the tournament's third round at stake. Broos remains optimistic, insisting his players are eager to make even more history and prove their quality on the world stage. He said the team would be fully prepared for the challenge and hopes they can continue their remarkable run in the competition.